History of Red island

It is believed that the Red island - the island of St. Andrew was inhabited in prehistorical times. In the VI. century the Benedictines built on the Red island first church, founded a monastery, and remained on it until the XIII. century when they left Red island. From this period are preserved remains of pre-Romanesque church from the IX. Century whose walls were once graced frescoes. From the church was preserved the central part of the church with a dome that are built into the residence of Hutterott family. In the middle of the XV. century abandoned objects were handed over to the Franciscans who completely reconstructed the monastery and the church. Franciscans stayed on the Red island until the arrival of the French, 1809th year, after which begins the decay of the church and the monastery on the Red island. The Decay was stopped in the 1892nd year, when on the Red island was founded cement and lime factory. In that time the bell tower served as a factory chimney.

In the 1891st the family Hutterott bought the Red island, turned the monastery into a family mansion, and reorganized the Red island into a park that was planted with various plants from all over the world. Currently on the island there are over 180 different species of plants. In this period Red island was a favourite destination of tourists from the Austro-Hungarian empire.

Today, on the island of St. Andrew is the residence of the family Hutterott, and on the island of Maskin family mausoleum was erected on the spot where once existed Histrian fort.

On the island is saved a central part of the church from the Benedictine period, which has the shape of a Greek cross. In this part, today there is a small maritime museum, with models of old ships and copies of frescoes from the whole Istria. The Convent was in the nineties of 19th century converted into the castle Hutterott, and today on the island of Maskinis a family grave of the family Hutterott.